Scythe snath fastener



Sept. 22, 1931f s. 1 cRowE scYTH sNATH FASTENER Filed May l2. 1930 a5 Jofzzeys.

Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `f SAMUEL L. CROWE, OF SEYMOUR, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO SEYMOUR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INCORPORATED, F SEYMOUR, INDIANA, CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE SCYTHE SNATH FASTENER `Application filed May 12, 1930. Serial No. 451,599.

This invention relates to agricultural implements, and moreparticularly to fastening devices for securing scythe blades to snaths, and has for one of its objects to proivide an improved device of this character which permits firm securement of the scythe blade to the snath in various positions of angular adjustment, and which is simple, durable and capable of being quickly and easily manipulated to permit removal and replacement of the Scythe blades. Another object is to provide an improved fastening device which is adapted to firmly and positively secure the scythe blade to the snath without subjecting the wood of the snath to any crushing strains, and which is also designed to absorb the twisting strains at the lower end of the snath. A further object is to provide an improved fastening device, so constructed as to reinforce and prevent injury to the lower` end of thel snath and which also serves to enclose and-completely protect the end grain surface of the snath against Contact with the ground and the action of the elements. It consists in certain features and elements of construction, herein shown and described, and indi-V cated by the claims.

To acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and practicing the present invention, I shall now describe a particular embodiment of the same, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lower end of the snath provided with a fastening device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation.

Figure 3 is an end view of the snath with the fastening device applied thereto.

Figure 4i is a transverse section taken substantially as indicated at line, 4 4, on Figure 2, showing the rabbeted connection between the fastening device and the snath.

Figure 5 is a perspective viewof the eye bolt used in connect-ion with the fastening device.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the shank portion of a scythe blade.

Referring now in detail to the drawings:

The numeral, 10, indicates a snath of usual construction, preferably made of wood, and having its lower end portion provided with a flattened surface indicated at 11, on which is rigidly secured a plate, 12, by means of a rivet or bolt, as indicated at 13, extending transversely through the snath. The upper eXteriorly exposed surface of the plate, 12, is preferably formed fiat to provide a seat for the shank portion, 15, of a scythe blade (notr shown). Desirably the plate, 12, is formed as a casting and has integrally associated therewith a head or cap, 17, substantially annular in form, having a skirt or band portion, 18, which is internally tapered as indicated at 19, for a drive fit onto the reduced end portion, 10a, of the snath. The cap fully encases said lower end portion of the snath and thereby serve as a reenforcement for preventing splitting or injury thereof, whiie at `all times absorbing the lateral thrust imparted by the Scythe blade when the device is being used.

The top portion of the cap, 17, is of substantialuthickness as may be seen in Figure 2) vand is provided with a pocket or recess, 20, dimensioned to insure clearance and accommodate a loop or eye bolt, 21, adapted to be disposed therein with its shank portion, 22, extending transversely through said top portion of the cap and engaged by a clamping nut, 23, on the side opposite the recess. The cap, 17, on opposite sides of the recess is preferably formed with a fiat surface flush with and serving as continuation of the flatY surface of the seating plate, 12, against which seat the tang or shank, 15, of the scythe blade is adapted to be secured by the eye-bolt, 21. In assembling or securing the Scythe blade to the fastening device the shank thereof is inserted Vthrough the loop or eyebolt, 21, and has its laterally projecting tang, a, kregistered in one of the series of apertures, 12, in said plate, 12; then upon tightening of the clamp nut, 23, the eye-bolt will draw the shank, 15, firmly against its seat on the plate and cap', 17, and will posi-v tively hold .it in such position. A resilient lock washer, 24, keeps the nut from working loose; The snath may be formed with re- Mju cesses, 10b, in registration with the apertures, 12a, of the plate Vso as to accommodate a relatively long projection, 15a, of the scythe blade shank. When the eye-bolt, 21, is loosened to release the shank, 15, the latter may be quickly adjusted to register its'locking projection, 15a, with any of the apertures of the series for obtaining a desired angular` relation of the Scythe blade to thesnath. By merely turning the nut,2f3, the eye-bolt, 21, may be caused to release or firmly engage the shank of the scythe blade to permit its free and easy removal or replacement.

It will be observed that the actual fastening element herein indicated as the eye-bolt, 21, is carried entirely out of direct engagement with the snath proper, and as may be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, it is disposed beyond the end ofthe snath so that the snath is wholly relieved of the crushing stresses incident to clamping the shank of the scythe blade to the plate, 12. To further relieve any strain on the securing bolt, 13, and to prevent turning of the fastening element on the lower end portion of the snath, I preferably provide the marginal edges of the plate, 12, with inclined downwardly projecting flanges, 12b, which are rabbeted into the snath proper, as may be seen in Figure 4f ofthe drawings, thus firmly and securely holding the fastening device in place on the snath. This arrangement manifestly avoids undue strain on the parts and naturally extends the-period of usefulness of the implement.

By fully encasing the lower end of the snath by the cap, 17, this portion Yof the snath is at all times protected against injury and reinforced against splitting by reason of encountering objects, as well as by constant engagement with the earth, While the implement is being used, and in addition this construction precludes moisture from coming indirect contact with the end surface of the lower end of the snath and causing deterioration thereof and shortening of its useful life.

Although I have shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the proportion and arrangement of parts may be varied without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the specific construction illustrated in the drawings, except as indicated by the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a snath, a plate rigidly secured to the lower end thereof and having an exposed surface formed to serve as a seat for the tang of a scythe blade, a cap rigidly associated with Vthe plate and constructed to completely encase the extreme lower end of the snath, and means associthe snath for securing it in place on the plate.

2. In combination with a snath, a plate rigidly secured to the lower end thereof and having an exposed surface formed to serve as a seat for the tang of a scythe blade, a cap rigidly connected with the plate and constructed to completely encase the extreme lower end of the snath, and means associated with the cap and disposed beyond the end of the snath for engaging the tang of the scythe blade and clamping it against the seat of the plate.

3. In the construction defined in claim v2, said means comprising an eye-bolt disposed transversely of the snath, and said cap being recessed to accommodate the eye-bolt therein. j

4. In combination with a snath, means for securinga scythe blade tang to the snath including an eye-bolt, a fitting secured to the lower end of the snath and including a cap encasing said end portion of the snath together with a pocket formed on the outer end of the cap beyond the snath, said pocket opening laterally and being dimensioned to receive the eye of the eye-bolt for clamping the tang of a scythe blade, the bottom of the pocket'being apertured and the shank of the bolt extending through the aperture to permit application of an adjusting nut thereto outside the pocket.

5. In combination with a snath, means for securing a Scythe blade tang thereto including an eye-bolt, a fitting secured to the lower end of the snath and including a cap encasing the end portion of the snath, said cap having two end walls spaced apart to form a pocket beyond the end of the snath, said pocket opening laterally and being dimensioned to receive the eye of the eye-bolt for clamping the tang of the scythe blade, the shank of said eye-bolt extending through an aperture in the bottom of the pocket and a plate extending from the edge of the pocket nearestthe end of the snath and overlying the latter to support the tang of the blade in the plane of the pocket opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Seymour, Indiana, this 8th day of May, 1930.

` SAMUEL L. CROVE.

ated with the cap, constructed to ,engage said tang of the scythe blade independently of 

